Advice needed for Sumo Robot

blankguitarist · 21-02-2013 03:57PM #1

Hey, I'm in college at the moment and we have to make an autonomous sumo robot for a module this semester.

It's going to run using a PIC microcontroller powering two DC motors and two servo motors, as well as ultrasonic sensors. I don't have all the details at the moment, as we're still at the design stage.

What I'm wondering is how viable of an option would it be to use lithium ion batteries, maybe recycled from a mobile phone or something instead of 9v batteries or AAs.

Would this give us extended battery life over the 9v or would it make much of a difference? We can gain an extra ten percent if our robot wins a small competition in the class, so any advantage helps.

Thanks in advance!

Sparks · 21-02-2013 04:20PM

Extended battery life in a sumo robot is a bit superfluous given the average match is measured in minutes or less. You want high torque, low center of gravity and a body design that's hard to shove.

blankguitarist · 21-02-2013 04:23PM

Yea, we're focusing on all of that, but our lecturer mentioned that some of the robots last year were running out of battery towards the end of the matches, which meant they lost. We're thinking in terms of the weight restriction as well. It'd be much better for us if we could use one battery as opposed to a few 9v or AA batteries.

ED E · 28-02-2013 11:22AM

It strikes me that a LiPo pack might be of use to you:

http://www.airsofteire.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=852&category_id=150&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=26

longhalloween · 09-03-2013 09:26PM

Mobile phone batteries are usually less that 5V. They use a charge pump to reach the required voltage. Probably not ideal for sumobots.

Advice needed for Sumo Robot

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